Also 6 corbone, 7 corbon. [Heb. qorbān ‘offering’ (f. qārab to approach, draw near), in N. T. Greek κορβᾶν, in Vulgate corban, whence in Eng. N. T. versions. In sense 2 it represents L. corbana, Gr. κορβανᾶς (Josephus and N. T.), perh. repr. an Aramaic qorbanā, Syr. [Syrian].]
1. Among the ancient Hebrews, an offering given to God, esp. in performance of a vow.
1382. Wyclif, Mark vii. 11. If a man schal seye to fadir or to modir, Corban, that is, What euere ȝifte of me, schal profite to thee.
1526. Tindale, ibid. Corban: which is: that thou desyrest of me to helpe the with, is geuen God.
a. 1757. Calmet (J.). If a man made all his fortune corban, or devoted it to God, he was forbidden to use it.
1865. Dixon, Holy Land, II. 234. Wanting funds to execute this mighty scheme … Pilate employed the Corban—the money laid up in the Temple as given to God.
b. transf.
1648. Eikon Bas. (1824), vii. 49. Who thinke to satisfie all obligations to duty by their corban of religion.
† 2. The treasury of the temple at Jerusalem, where such offerings, when made in money, were placed; also transf. Church-treasury. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16537 (Cott.). To be don in þair corbanan [Trin. tresorie] Þai said þat it noght doght.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Luke xxi. 164. Into the corbone, that is, their churche treasourie.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Matt. xxvii. 6. It is not lavvful to cast them into the Córbana [Wyclif tresorie, Coverdale the Gods chest, Cranmer treasure]: because it is the price of bloud.
1610. A. Cooke, Pope Joan, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), IV. 53. He complains of nothing, but that courtiers robbed his corban, I mean his monastery.
